Half to joseph harris



(No Model.) I

P. BATCHELOR. FENCE BUILDING MACHINE.

No. 583,782. Patented June 1,1897.

c Noams mens co.. rnomuruo.. msumn'rou UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER BATOHELOR, OF LAWRENOEBURG, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- IIALF TO JOSEPH HARRIS, OF SAME PLACE.

FENCE-BUILDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 583,782, dated June 1, 1897.

Application filed November 30, 1895. Renewed February 1, 1897. Serial No. 621,554. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER BATCHELOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lawrenceburg, in the countyr of Dearborn and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Constructing Fences; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to certain improvements in apparatus for the construction of that class of fences consisting of vertical slats bound together at suitable distances apart by means of twisted wires and which may be constructed upon the site upon which it is to be located; and it has for its object to provide a device or apparatus for twisting the wires around the slats as these are successively set up, as more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, formingpart of this specification, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improved apparatus, showing a portion of a fence in the process of construction 5 and Fig. 2 is a similar vie showing the opposite side thereof.

Referring specifically to the views, the numeral 1 indicates an upright or standard supported upon a base 2, which is mounted'upon wheels or rollers 3, situated at each end of the base. At suitable intervals corresponding to predetermined distances between the horizontal strands of wire to be twisted the standard is provided with laterally-extending brackets 3', in which the wire-twisting devices 4 are mounted. Said devices consist of disks of suitable diameter, which are provided at their rear faces withhollow hubs 5, which are iianged, as shown, and are seated in the annular recesses or bearings in the brackets 3. The disks at their peri pheries are beveled and provided with cog-teeth, each constituting a miter gear-wheel which intergears with a miter cogged pinion 7, mounted on one end of a shaft 8, passing through a journaled bearing in the upright or standard. The other ends of the shafts have mounted thereon sprocketwheels 9, 10, and 11, respectively, the sprocketwheels 9 and 11 being of the same diameter,

while the intermediate sprocket-wheel 10 is of greater diameter. The sprocket-wheels are connected by a sprocket-chain 12, so that all may be moved simultaneously in the same direction. The shaft of the intermediate sprocket-wheel is provided with a crank-arm 13, by means of which the system of gearing may be operated.

The twisting devices at each side of their centers are provided with apertures through which the wires to be twisted are passed. Each device is provided at the front of its hub with a detachable collar 15, which serves to lhold the passing wires in proper position to the twister.

The numeral 16 indicates a draft-bar having a series of wire-holding devices, corresponding in number to the series of bindingwires employed to secure the slats. Each device consists of an open box 17, having an extension 18, which is connected to the draftbar by means of wires 19,'passing through eyes at the end of the extension and through an aperture in the draft-bar. Each -box is provided with a lever 20, which has on its underside binding-teeth to bear against and hold the wires taut during the construction of the fence. y

The numeral 21 indicates a recessed block, which is secured to the middle of the draftbar by means of a shackle 22 or otherwise. The said block is provided with pulleys 23 and 24, around which a rope 25 is passed, the shaft of the pulley 23 being provided with a crank-arm 26, by means of which the rope may be tightened to draw the draft-bar and hold the wires taut, the other pulley 24 being secured to the standard 30 at one end of the base-rail 28. The block is also provided with a binding-lever 27, by means of which the rope may be locked when the apparatus is set up for the construction of a fence.

To set up a fence, the base-rail 28 is properly laid upon the ground. The rail is provided with a vertical standard 29 to form one of the end supports of the wires. The wires are passed around said standard, then carried through the apertures in the twisting devices and through the blocks before mentioned, in which position the said wires are then drawn taut by the tightening mechanism and locked IOO by the lever 27. The standard carrying the twisting-gearing is carried close up to the standard 29 and the gearing operated to give one or more turns to the wires. A slat is then inserted between the wires and the twistinggearing is again operated to twist the wires at one side of the inserted slat. Another slat is then inserted between said wires and the operation of twisting the Wires again performed, and so on until the required length of fence is completed, the standard carrying the twisting-gearing being moved forward as the construction of the fence progresses.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a device for twisting the wires of a fence aro und the slats thereof, the combination with a movable base having a vertical standard provided with a series of twisting devices,

and means for actuating the same simultaneously, of a series of binding devices for locking and holding the wires in position, said devices connected to a draft-bar, and a block provided with pulleys around which passes a rope, one pulley having a projecting shaft provided with a crank-arm, said block being connected to the draft-bar at one end by a suitable shackle and provided at the other end with a shackle, by means of which it can be connected to one of the fence-posts While the fence is being constructed, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two wlitnesses.

1S PETER BATCIIELOR.

mark Wilitnesses:

JOSEPH HARRIS, J oHN Il. RUSSE, Jr. 

